Koson Ohara Cormorant and Waves

Cormorant and Waves, Showa Period
17 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches
KHO6 $485
Publisher Yosaku Nishinomiya
Woodblock Print Shop, Japan

KOSON OHARA

Koson Ohara is famous for his prints of birds and flowers known as kacho-e. He worked both as a print maker and a painter. Born in Ohara Mataohe, Japan he studied painting and design in school and with Suzuki Kason (1860–1919).

In 1926, he became associated with the publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō, and signed his work Shōson. Work with publisher Kawaguchi, was signed Hōson.

Shoson became very popular in the west, particularly in America He was an adviser to the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.

Today, his original prints are mostly very rare, though Wantanabe still republishes a few and they are to be found in many major museums worldwide.